Permutation lock



Jimmy n, 19%. 1,499,554

W. C. RQLE PERMUTATION LOCK 0% Filed Feb. 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M 1,mm,

2 Shank-Sheet, B

7 Filed Feb. 19. 1923 Patented duly ll, l d.

WILLIAM CHARLES RULE, OF

G-OIDEJTONE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 CHARLES EID'W'ARD ATLEE,OF LONDON, ENG-LAND.

PERMU'TATION LOCK.

Application filed February 19, 1923. Serial No. 620,032.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, VVILIJAM CHARLES RULE, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing at Godstone, Surrey, England, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Permutation Locks, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to permutation locksof the type wherein a plurality of rotatable indicating members areemployed, each carried coir centrically on a toothed wheel mounted free011 a bolt or spindle having keys which register with key-ways in thewheels so as to ,enable the bolt to be withdrawn. These locks aresometimes provided with means which permit of the disengagement of thetoothed wheels from the indicating-memhers so as to allow the saidmembers to be rotated and thereby enable the code of the lock to bechanged.

This invention has for its main object to provide an improvedconstruction of lock of the kind referred to which shall be simple inconstruction and reliable in operation.

According to one feature of this inveir tion there is provided a lock ofthe type referred to, which is characterized by the toothed wheelshaving separate spacing bushes between them and the bolt having keys soarranged as to engage ways in the bushes only, when the bolt is in thelocking position, but to engage ways in the bushes and the wheels whenthe bolt is in the un locking position.

Further, according to another feature of this invention, the lockhereinbefore referred to may have each. of the indicating-membersseparated from its neighbour by a washer non-rotatably secured to thebush, for examble by flat sides on the bush engaging with acorrespondingly shaped orifice in the washer.

Again, according to a further feature of this invention, the lockhereinbefore referred to may be provided with a movable member which, inone position prevents the endwise movement of the bush and the wheelsand in another position permits of such endwise movement, which membermay be the shackle of the lock or a member which is so arranged that itis released by the shackle when the latter is unlocked or has to bedisplaced to permit of the unlocking of the shackle.

The lock hereinbefore referred to may have the toothed wheels soarranged that when they are moved out from engagement with theindicating-members, they are previously engaged with keys on the boltand are thereby prevented from rotating.

Again, according to still another feature of this invention, one limb ofthe shackle may be arranged to extend past the end of the row of bushesand has in it a recess which can be brought opposite the row of busheswhen the shackle is unlocked, (for example by turning the shacklethrough 180) to allow the bushes to be moved endwise for resetting.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation ofthe lock according to this invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation on the line AA of Figure 1;

Figure 8 illustrates the method employed for locking the washers on tothe bushes;

Figure 4: shows a part elevation of the lock with the bolt in theunlocking position;

Figure 5 shows a part elevation of the lock wherein the shackle has beenturned through 180 in order to enable the code of the lock to bechanged.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lock, and

Figure 7 shows one form of key which maybe used for moving the bushesand toothed wheels in an endwise direction.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the body or frame of the lockwhich is recessed to receive the two limbs ,2 and 3 of a U- shapedshackle, the shorter limb 2 of which constitutes the releasing side ofthe shackle. Extending transversely? through the lock and under theshorter limb 2 of the shackle there is a bolt 4 which is provided with aseries of keys 5 which are adapted to engage with a series of collinearkey-ways to be turned through 180.

body of the lock.

provided in the bushes 6. The bushes G are assembled so as to act asdistance pieces for toothed wheels 7 hen the limbs 01 the shackle are intheir locked position and the bolt 4 occupies the locking positionillustrated in Figure 1 the said toothed wheels are capable of beingrotated on the bolt 4 in spaces provided between the keys 5. The toothedwheels 7 normally engage with two teeth 15 cut on the inner surface ofthe indicating-members 8 and are also provided with key-ways 16 whichenable the bolt 4 to be withdrawn from the shackle when the keys 5 andthe key-ways 16 are in alignment. The indicating-members 8 are separatedfrom one another by washers 9 which are secured to the bushes 6 in themanner illustrated in Figure 8, the bushes 6 being provided with flatsides with which the flat sides on the orifice of the washer 9 arecaused to engage. The indicatingmembers 8 are prevented from movinglaterally due to the fact that each extreme member abuts against thebody of the lock.

Atthat end of the bolt 4 which is remote from the long limb 3 of theshackle there is provided a longitudinal slot 11 in the bolt 4 whichengages with a pin 10 fitted in the body of the lock. The recess in thebody 1 o1 the lock which receives the pin 10 forms an extension of therecess which receives the short limb 2 of the shackle.- The pin 10 whenthe lock is assembled extends through a slot in that outside bush whichis remote from the long limb 3 of the shackle into the slot 11 in thebolt 4-, thereby holding both the bushes 6 and the bolt 4 againstrelative rotational movementbut at the same time permitting thelongitudinal movement of the bolt, bushes and wheels.

The long limb 3 of the shackle constitutes a controlling member and isprovided with a recess '12 which engages with a pin 13 and isconstructed of such a length as to allow, when the bolt is in theposition illustrated in Figure 4, the shackle to be withdrawn such adistance as to enable the short limb 2 to be withdrawn from the Therecess 12 communicates at its lower end with an annular groove 14 whichextends around the long limb'of the shackle such that, when the shortlimb 2 of the shackle has been with drawn from the lock, the pin 13engages with the groove 14 and allows the shackle On the lower end ofthe long limb of the shackle 3 there is provided a hole or slot 17which, when the short limb 2 is in the position illustrated in Figure 1,lies concentric with the longitudinal axis of the bolt. The hole or slot17 has substantially the same diameter as the bolt and thereby enablesthat end of the bolt which is adjacent to the long limb 3 of the shackleto be inserted therein thus locking the shackle. When the bolt l and theshackle are in the position illustrated in Figure 5 there is presentedto the end of the bolt a flat surface 18 at the bottom of a recess inthe shackle which is in line with the longitudinal axis of the bolt butis of such a depth as to allow the bolt, bushes and wheels to be pressedendwise the distance permitted by the depth of the said recess.

Thus assuming that the code number of the lock is 3126, and the bolt 1is in the position shown in Figure 1, if the indicating-members aremoved so as to bring these four numbers into line with the zero marks onthe lock the keys 5 on the bolt 4:, and the key-ways in the bushes 6 andtoothed wheels 7 are brought into alignment with one another and allowthe bolt 1- to be pulled in a direction away from the longer limb 3 ofthe shackle into the position illustrated in Figure 41. Under thesecircumstances the bolt unlocks the shackle and enables the shorter limb2 to be released from the body of the lock.

Should it be desired when the shackle is in this position to alter thecode number of the lock the shackle is turned through 180 so as topresent the fiat 18 to the end of the bolt and thus enables both theextreme bush 6 adjacent to the long limb 3 ot the shackle and the bolt 4to be pushed into the said flat, by means of the key 7, as explainedhereinafter. \Vhen this is done all the bushes 6 and the toothed wheels7 are moved to the left as shown in Figure 5 and the wheels 7 are causedto disengage with the internal teeth 15 on the indicating-members 8.These indicating-niembers may now be moved so as to bring any fourdesired figures opposite the zero marks of the lock whereupon the bushesare slid back returned to their normal position and thereby bring thetoothed wheels 7 into re-engagement with the internal teeth 15 on to theindicating-members 8.

This is effected by swinging the shackle back through 180 therebycausing the edge of the flat 18 to push the bushes into the positionshown in Figure 1 and in consequence thereof the wheels 7 are broughtinto re-engagement with the indicating-members 8. The short end 2 of theshackle is then caused to engage with the body of the lock and the bolt4: is moved endwise so as to enter into the hole 17, whereupon theindicating-members 8 may be rotated to jumble them and to bring thekey-ways 16 in the toothed. wheels 7 out of line with the keys 5 on thebolt 4 and so retain the bolt in the locked position.

That end bush 6 which is remote from the long limb 3 of the shackle isretained in position between the face of the toothed wheel 7 which liesnext to it and the pin 10 by means of a circular ring 20 fitted into anannular groove cut in the outer surface of the said bush, so that thering abuts against the pin 10 when the said bush is in its normalposition.

In Figure 7 there is illustrated an operating key which is used formoving the bushes 6 and the toothed wheels 7 in an endwise direction.The said key is in the form of a ring or bush of such internal diameteras to allow it to be placed over the end of the bolt 4- against the faceof the end bush 6 for the purpose of thrusting the row of bushes backand in sodoing the operating key presses against the end key on the boltwhich is then flush with the end face of the lock and so moves the boltback with the bushes.

To hold the end bushes friction-tight so that they do not slip endwisewhen not required to move they are made, in the construction shown inthe drawings, of such diameter that they have to be sprung in to thebody of the lock.

Spring-pressed balls mounted in the body of the 100; may be used tolocate the indicating-members at different indicating po-' sitions, andspring-pressed balls may also be employed to locate the bushes at thetwo limits of their endwise movement,

It will be appreciated that owing to the described construction andarrangement of parts of the improved lock, the code of the lock can bereadily changed without having to dismember the lock.

Obviously, various modifications may be made in detail in a lockaccording to this invention without departing from the spirit and thescope of the invention, as defined in the claims, and the constructiondescribed above is given only by way of example.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a permutation lock, the combination with a spindle having keysspaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof, toothed wheelsthreaded on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one ofsaid keys, and rotatable indicating-members mounted concentrically eachon one of said toothed wheels, of a separate spacing bush threaded onsaid spindle between each pair of said wheels and having a keyway toreceive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are sospaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bush and the axialthickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the spindle inrelation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged by a key but thewheels are free to rotate on the spindle, and in another axial positionthe keys engage ways in the bush and the wheels, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a permutation lock, the combination with a spindle having keysspaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof, toothed wheelsthreaded on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one ofsaid keys, and rotatable indieating-members mounted concentrically eachon one of said toothed wheels, of separate spacing bushes threadedalternately with said wheels on said spindle and having each a key-wayto receive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are sospaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bushes and theaxial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the spindlein relation to the bushes and wheels the keys engage key-Ways in thebushes only, and in another axial position thereof the keys engagekey-ways in the bushes and in the wheels, and a washer non-rotatablycarried by each bush situated between two adjacent wheels, which washerextends between two adjacent indicating 'members, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a permutation lock, the combination with a frame, a spindlecarried thereby having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal directionof the same, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each akeyway to receive one of said keys and rotatable indicating membersmounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, of a separatespacing bush threaded on said spindle between said wheels and having akeyway to receive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length andare so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bush and theaxial thickness of said wheels, that in one axial position of thespindle in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged by a keybut the wheels are free to rotate about the spindle, and in anotheraxial position the keys engage key-ways in the bush and the wheels, anda controlling member movable in said frame into two positions inrelation to said wheels and bush, in one of which positions it isarranged to lock said wheels and bush against endwise move ment, and inthe other of which it is arranged to permit of such endwise movement,substantially as described.

4. In a permutation lock, the combination with a frame, a spindlecarried thereby having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal directionof the same, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each akeyway to receive one of said keys, and rotatable indicating-membersmounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, of a separatespacing bush threaded on said spindle between each pair of said wheelsand having a key-way to receive one of said keys, which keys are of sucha length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of saidbush and the axial thickness of said wheels, that in one axial positionof the spindle in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged bya key but the wheels are free to rotate about the spindle, and inanother axial position the keys engage key-ways in the bush and thewheels,

- and a controlling-member rotatable in said threaded on said spindleand having each a keyway to receive one of said keys, and rotatableindicating members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothedWheels, of a separate spacing bush threaded on said spindle between saidwheels and having a key-way to receive one of said keys, which keys areof such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial lengthof said bush and the axial thickness of said wheels, that in one axialposition of the spindl in relation to the bush and wheels the bush isengaged by a key but the wheels are free to rotate about the spindle,and in another axial position the keys engage keyways in the bush andthe wheels, and a controlling member rotatable and slidable endwise insaid fram into two positions in relation to said wheels and said bush,in one of which positions the controlling member is arranged to locksaid wheels and bush in the frame against endwise movement, and in theother of which it is arranged to permit of such endwise movement,substantially as described.

6. In a permutation lock, the combination of a frame, a spindle carriedthereby and having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal directionthereof, toothed wheels and bushes separate from the latter threadedalternately on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one ofsaid keys, rotatable indicating-members mounted concentrically each onone of said toothed wheels,

which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation tothe axial length of said bushes and the axial thickness of said Wheelsthat in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bushes andwheels the keys engag key-ways in the bushes, and in another axialposition thereof the keys engage key-ways in the bushes and in thewheels, and a shackle movable in said frame into two positions, in oneof which it is locked against rotational movement and itself locks saidwheels and bushes against endwise'movement in the frame, and in theother of which it is rotatable and is arranged to permit of said Wheelsand bushes to move endwise in the frame, substantially as described.

T. In a permutation lock, the combination of a spindle having keysspaced apart in th longitudinal direction thereof, toothed wheelsthreaded on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one ofsaid keys, rotatable indicating-n'iembers mounted concentrically each onone of said toothed wheels and arranged to engage the same in an axialdirection, a separate spacing bush threaded on said spindle between eachpair of said wheels and having a key-way to re ceive one of said keys,which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation tothe axial length of said bush and the axial thickness of said wheelsthat in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bush andwheels the bush is engaged by a key but the wheels are free to rotateabout the spindle, and in another axial position, in which the wheelsare brought out of driving engagement with the said indicating-members,the keys engage key-ways in the bush and in the wheels, which engagementof the wheels with the keys is effected prior to the disengagement ofthe indicating-niembers from the wheels, substantially as described.

8. In a permutation lock, the combination of a frame, a spindle carriedthereby and having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal directionthereof and having a longitudinal slot, toothed wheels and bushesseparate from the latter threaded alternately on said spindle and havingeach a key-way to receive one of said keys, rotatable indicating membersmounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, which keysare of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axiallength of said bushes and the axial thickness of said wheels that in oneaxial position of the spindle in relation to the bushes and wheels thekeys engage key-ways in the bushes only, and in another axial positionthereof the keys engage key-ways in the bushes and in the wheels, one ofwhich bushes has a longitudinal slot, and a pin extending from the framethrough the slotted bush into said slot in said spindle, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

9. In a permutation link, the combination with a frame, a spindlecarried thereby having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal directionthereof, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each akey-way to receiveone of said keys, and rotatable indicating-membersmounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, of a separatespacing bush threaded on said spindle between each pair of said wheelsand having a key-way to receive one of said keys, which keys are of sucha length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of saidbush and the axial thickness of said wheels that in one axial positionot" the spindle in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engagedby a key,. but the wheels are free to rotate about the spin dle, and inanother axial position the keys engage ways in the bush and in thewheels, and a controlling member having two recesses movable in saidframe into two positions in relation to said spindle, in one of whichpositions one end of the spindle can enter into one of the recesses andthe controlling member locks said wheels and bush against endwisemovement, and in the other position the said end of the spindle entersinto the other of said recesses and the controlling member permitsendwise movement to said wheels and bush in the frame, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a permutation lock, the combination of a frame, a bolt carriedthereby and having keys spaced apart in the longitudi nal directionthereof, toothed wheels and bushes separate from the latter threadedalternately on said bolt and having each a key-way to receive one ofsaid keys, rotatable indicating-members mounted concentrically each onone of said toothed wheels, which keys are of such a length and arespaced apart in. relation to the axial length of said bushes and theaxial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the bolt inrelation to the bushes and Wheels the keys engage key-ways in thebushes, and in another axial position thereof the keys eugage key-waysin the bushes and in the wheels, and a controlling member movable insaid frame into two positions in. relation to said,bolt, in one of whichpositions the controlling member locks said wheels and bushes in theirnormal position against end- Wise movement in the frame, and in the sec0nd of which positions the controlling memher is arranged to permit saidwheels and bushes to move from their normal position into a re-settingposition. which controlling member is so shaped and arranged in relationto said bushes that the latter are automatically returned to theirnormal position when the controlling member is moved from its saidsecond position to its other position, substantially as described.

11. In a permutation lock, the combination of a frame, a spindle carriedthereby and having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal directionthereof and having a longitudinal slot, toothed wheels and bushesseparate from the latter threaded alternately on said spindle and havingeach a key-Way to receive one of said keys, rotatable indicating membersmounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, which keysare of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axiallength of said. bushes and the axial thickness of said wheels that inone axial position of the spindle in relation to the bushes and wheelsthe keys engage key-ways in the bushes and in another axial positionthereof the keys engage keyqvays in the bushes and in the wheels, one ofwhich bushes has a longitudina slot, a pin extending from the framethrough the slotted bush into said slot in said spindle, said slottedbush having a groove extending round its slotted portion, and a ring insaid groove extending across the slot in the bush tor co-acting withsaid pin and thereby limiting the endwise movement ot the slotted bushin one direction, substantially as described.

12. In a permutation lock, the combination with a body portion havingtwo cavities at right-angles to one another, a bolt that is movableendwise in one of said cavities and has keys spaced apart in thelongitudinal direction of the bolt, permutation mechanism comprisingtoothed wheels alternating *ith bushes slidable endwise on said bolt,and a member that extends into and is movable in the other of saidcavities, which member has two recesses each for receiving one end ofsaid bolt in two different positions of the member, substantially asdescribed.

18. In a permutationlock, the combination with a body portion having twocavities at right-angles to one another, a bolt having keys spaced apartin its longitudinal direction movable endwise in one of said cavities,permutation mechanism comprising toothed wheels alternating with bushesslidable endwise on said bolt, and a shackle having a limb that extendsinto and is rotatable in the other of said cavities, which limb has tvrorecesses spaced. angularly apart each for receiving one end of said boltin two different positions of the shackle.

let. in a permutation lock, the combination with a body portion havingtwo cavities at right-angles to one another, a bolt, having keys spacedapart in its longitudinal direction, movable endwise in one of saidcavities, permutation mechanism comprising toothed wheels alternatingwith bushes slidable endwise on said bolt, and a shackle having a limbthat extends slidably axially into and is rotatable in the other of saidcavities, which limb has two recesses each for receiving one end of saidbolt in two different positions of the shackle, which recesses arespaced apart angular-1y and in the axial direction of the limb,substantially as described.

15. In a permutation lock, the combination with a body portion havingtwo cavities at rightangles to one another, a bolt that extends into andis movable endwise in one of said cavities and has keys spaced apart inthe longitudinal direction of the bolt, permutation mechanism comprisingtoothed Wheels alternating with bushes slidable endwise in said bodyportion on said bolt, and a member that extends into and ceiving one endof said bolt in tWo different positions of the member, one end face ofan .end bush being accessible through a hole in the body portion andadapted to be shifted endwise on the bolt by a key in the form of a ringthreaded on the outer end of the bolt, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I :illix my signai ure.

VVILLIAH CHARLES RULE.

